Method for producing dentures



June 16, 1953 5. w. GRANT 2,641,802

METHOD FOR PRODUCING DENTURES Filed Oct. 4, 1950 IN VENTOR George ranzBY 7/2 wad,

ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ZiZ it.Eififiliitiif Application October 4, 1950, Serial No. 188,435

3 Claims.

-of artificial teeth in moldable denture bodies.

In the procedurepresently followed by the dental profession in formingartificial teeth, the

molded plate or body of the denture has permanently joined or embeddedtherein a required number of artificial teeth. The body of the denturewith the teeth comprise a rigid assembly, conforming as closely aspossible to the configurations of the mouthin which the denture isapplicable. However, regardless of the high degree of care, skill andexperience of the dentist. and associated technicians, the denturesformed are often found to be not exactly in conformity with variousphysical peculiarities of a patients mouth or jaw articulation, with theresult that considerable grinding of such dentures is commonly requiredto render the same adaptable for practical service. Often in such cases,it is necessary to discard a denture because of its illfittingattributes and replace the same'with another.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a denture in whichthe teeth carried thereby have their operating positions determinedafter the body of the denture has been molded and fitted to the mouth.

It is another object of theinvention to provide a denture in which theteeth thereof will conform faithfully to the physical pecularities ofthe mouth and wherein this result is attained withment capable ofquickly setting at low temperatures or while in the mouthof the patient,the said cement at the time of insertion into the denture socketreceiving the tooth or teeth of the denture and supporting the same in amanner sufi'iciently movable so that the tooth or teeth will assume anatural operating position depending upon the individual bitecharacteristics of the patient, the cement initially permitting theteeth to move to a limited extent in a substantially universal manner inresponse to forces set up by the patients jaw articulation. Thereafter,the cement hardens to retain the teeth in definite positions inthe'denture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in such a methodof denture manufacture a core adapter which is inserted in the denturebody in a manner receiving the root regions of associated artificialteeth, the adapter being formed from deformable material, so that thesame may be removed from the denture to form a socket or sockets thereinsuitable for the reception of the quick-acting cement and the root basesof artificial teeth.

For a further understanding of the invention, including additionalobjects and advantages thereof, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the body of a dentureof the invention, and illustrating the same provided with a moldedsocket containing an artificial tooth and a core adapter formed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing the socket molded body of thedenture with a quantity of quick-acting cement contained therein;

Fig. 3 is a similar view disclosing an artificial tooth operativelypositioned in the cement-com taining socket, with the adapter removedfrom the tooth;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an artificial tooth having the adapterof the present invention mounted thereon;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the adapter itself.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates themolded body of a plate, bridge or denture used in the restoration ofmissing teeth from the human mouth. The body may be formed from thecustomary materials used in producing dental moldings, such as metal,rubber or one or more of the so-called plastics. The body is produced bythe standard techniques followed by the dental profession with theexception that in this instance, the artificial teeth 2 to be joinedwith the body I have their root regions 3 positioned in a cap or coreadapter 4, which may be formed from molded rubber, soft metal or otherdeformable material. At the time the body I is molded, the adapters 4produce in the molded body sockets 5 which hold the tooth or teeth 2 inposition, particularly when the the teeth are surrounded by the adapters4.

The dentist may then place the molded body with the tooth or teethpositioned therein an a patients mouth to observe how the teeth and thedenture generally conform with mouth configurations and articulation.The denture is then removed from the mouth and the tooth or teeth 2together with the deformable adapter or adapters 4 carried thereby areremoved from the socket or sockets 5. In such a socket, there is placeda quantity 6 of a conventional quicksetting dental cement and the toothor teeth 2 with the adapter or adapters 4 removed therefrom is forcedinto the cement which is in a somewhat mobile or fluid state.

The denture is then placed in the mouth of the patient and the latter isrequired to bite on the denture with sufiicient force to cause the toothor teeth 2 to assume positions in the yieldable cement best adapted forthe proper jaw articulation of the patient. After this has beenaccomplished, within a matter of ten to fifteen minutes, the cement,indicated at 6, hardens and then for the first time permanently unitesthe tooth or teeth 2 with the denture body I. Outside of cleaning thedenture to remove surplus cementing material which may have accumulatedthereon, the denture is in condition for immediate and sustained use bythe patient.

It will be noted that in this operation, no need is developed forgrinding the teeth, since the mastic bed afforded by the cement 6, whenplaced in the socket or sockets 5, assures proper conformity of thetooth or teeth to the peculiarities of the patients mouth, the teethbeing somewhat mobile as regards their operating position or positionsduring this initial stage of fitting the denture to the mouth. It isonly after the cement sets and hardens that permanency in the operatingpositions of the denture teeth is secured.

The term denture as utilized herein connotes any appliance eitherfixedly or removably positioned in or attachable to the oral cavity andadapted to function as a tooth support. It embraces within its purviewsuch devices as plates, bridges, and the like.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of myclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of my claims without departing from the spiritof my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

I claim:

1. The method of forming dentures, which comprises: molding a denturebody in a manner effecting the shaping and conformity thereof with thephysical requirements of an edentulous mouth space which the denture isto occupy, disposing in said body while the same is in a formative statethe root region of an associated artificial tooth, said region havingapplied thereto a removable cap which conforms generally to theconfiguration ofthe region on which the cap is mounted, whereby to formin said body a socket of controlled configuration and possessing greaterdimensions than said tooth region, and following molding of the denturebody and said socket removing the tooth and its cap therefrom.

2. The method of forming dentures, which comprises: molding a denturebody in a manner effecting the shaping and conformity thereof with thephysical requirements of an edentulous mouth space which the denture isto occupy, disposing in said body while the same is in a formative statethe root region of an associated artificial tooth, said region havingapplied thereto a removable cap which conforms generally to theconfiguration of the tooth region on which the cap is mounted, wherebyto form in said body a socket of controlled configuration and possessinggreater dimensions than said root region, following molding of thedenture body and said socket removing the tooth and its cap therefrom,separating the cap from said tooth, replacing the tooth in said socketand cementing the tooth in a fixed occlusally determined position insaid socket.

3. The method of forming dentures, which comprises: molding a denturebody in a manner effecting conforming thereof with the physicalrequirements of an edentulous mouth space which the denturev is tooccupy, disposing in said body while the same is in a formative statethe root region of an artificial tooth which is to form a part of thecompleted denture, the root region of the tooth so positioned containinga removable cap conforming generally to the configuration of said rootregion, removing the tooth and cap from said body to produce in thelatter a toothreceiving socket of predetermined configuration NumberName Date Saffir Jan. 1, 1946

